The Role of Media in Shaping Public Opinion and the Social Change – Role of Social Media Affecting Social Change

Absztrakt (kivonat)

The media has always been an important part of our everyday lives. Since we gain information and understanding about many facets of life. However, media is always evolving, and one of the branches of media nowadays is social media. Social media is a sort of technology that enables individuals to exchange ideas, opinions, and information by utilising virtual networks and communities. Because these new platforms allow for the exchange of ideas and opinions, this study will attempt to determine if social media has an impact on social change and opinion formation. Furthermore, this research will be expanded in a case study to explore how social media fosters a sense of solidarity and sympathy among users. The findings were discovered after analysing two case studies from two distinct nations with different backgrounds, the first in Egypt and the second in the United States. This study is based on media ecology theory, which seeks to define how diverse media environments impact today's society and our everyday lives. And the central premise of the idea is that communication content does not have nearly as much influence as the medium of communication itself. According to the findings of the study, in order to effect social change, there must be a platform where individuals can be mobilised and prepared for the next action. It was also discovered that in order to effect social change, online activism is usually connected to offline activism. Furthermore, by the content available on its social platforms, that social media may foster a sense of unity among its users. This study also raised the question of how long people remain sympathetic to a certain subject on social media.